Discharge manifold for pressure containers



1,625,044 .April 19 19271 VW, McKEOWN I DISCHARGMANIFOLD FOR` PRESSURE CONTAINERS v med Dec. 4. 1925 Patented Aprf 19, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM C. MOKEOWN, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOB TO MODERN HOUSE- HOLD APPLIANCE COMPANY, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION O1!l MARYLAND.

Applioationnled December 4, 1925. Serial No. 73,148.

My invention relates to discharge manifolds for pressure containers.

The principal object of my invention 4is to devise a discharge manifold that is adapted adapted for use with containers carrying fluid under pressure, that can be -readily mounted by inexperienced persons in said containers with the obtention of a sealed joint and that is provided with means for opening the valve that normallj7 closes the entrance to, said container.

i My invention is more particularl'yi` di rected towards providing a discharge-mani?` fold for use in connection with the tank'il-w. lustrated and described in my copending application for a liquid fuel gas range, Serial No. 38, 481', filed June 20, 1925. The fuel for these ranges consists of a natural .product which is compressed into a liquid state and distributed to consumers in containers."l Hence, there must be somedevice interposed between vthe rangeand 'the l container that will render available for the former the fuel 'that is present in the latter.

As the containers must be refilled at somev central point from time to time, the device above noted must be characterized by a facility in attaching and detaching the same to .and from the container. In addition and in view of the fact that such utensils are normally operated by inexperienced persons, the device must possess a capacity for uniformly establishing a gas tight joint with the container in orderfto reduce the hazard of' asphyxiation. j

My improved discharge manifold has been designed to meet the foregoing requirements and comprises in a single structure, not only means for unseating the valve with which containers of the type are usually provided, but also is arranged -to be readily mounted in the tank with an assurance that a gas tight joint is always provided. The con struction is of such a character that the latter condition remains constantly obtainable even though the manifold may be subjected i to considerable wear, or the parts be in slight misalignment.

These and other objects are set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and the novel means by which said objects are -effectuated will be definitely pointed out in the claims.

arrows.

F ig. 3 is a section along the line 3-.-3 in Fig. 1, but showing only the lower` portion of the manifold.

l Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the lower portion of my improved manifold. @In the drawing:

i' The numeral l() represents a containerv generally having a threaded opening 11, in

which .is mounted a fillingplug 12. A

suitable washer 13 lmay be interposed between Vsaid container and plug in order to obtain a sealed connection at this point.

.A threaded hole 14 extends inwardly throughthe plug 12 for any desired distance and an extension 15 is provided on the inner side of said plug, said extension projecting within the interior of the container 10. The extension 15 is provided with a hole 16 having a threaded portion 1n which is mounted a hollow plug 17 .4 The holes 14 and 16 are axially aligned 'and eX- tend toward each other to merge into the passage 18 which is of less diameter than either of the aforementioned holes.

The junction of the passage 18 with the hole 16 forms a valve seat 19 and the junction of said passage with the hole 14 forms a valve seat 20. A ball 21 normally contacts with .the seat 19 through the action of a spring22 which is interposed between the plug 17 and a platform 23 on which said ball rests. Y

The elements heretoforedescribed are intended to be indicative'of a container having a normally closed passage which serves as an entrance thereto. In filling said containers the ball 21, or such other valve'as may be desired, is retracted from engagement with the seat 19 and upon the completion of this operation,said ball is returned to its normal position through the action of the spring 22 and the pressure of the contained iuid. The container therefore is provided with adequate means for reducing leakage to a minimum. Pending delivery to the consumer, the hole 14A may be closed by any suitable plug.

It is the function of my improved discharge manifold' to render available the fluids, whether gaseous or liquid, that arc carried by the container l() and to achieve this result by an apparatus havmg the advantages hereinbefore explained. Thls de vice will now be described.

The discharge manifold comprises a body 24 having the threaded portions 25 and 26 which are disposed respectively at the lower and upper ends of said body as viewed 1 n Fig. 1. The lower threaded port1on 25 1sl adapted to=y be insert-ed in the threaded hole 14. i

An exhaust duct 27 is provided 1n the body 24 and extends from the lower; end of the portion 25 upwardly through said body to a point beyond a threaded hole 28 which enters said body from one side thereof. A supply pipe 29 is mounted in the hole 2.8, thereby connecting a duct 27 with any suitable outlet. Above the hole 28, the duct 27 merges into a threaded hole 30 in which is mounted the threaded portion 31 of a valve rod '32. Said rod extends upwardly through a cap 33 which is mounted on the threaded portion 26 and at its upper end carries the hand wheel 34. The portion of said rod which extends through the cap 33 is smooth, as shown in Figure 1 and packing.

35 is disposed around said smooth portion in order to obtain a seal at this point of the manifold. The cap 33 carries a ring 36 which is adapted to compress the packing 35 in order. to obtain -the foregoing result.

Below the threaded portion 31, the valve rod 32 is reduced in diameter, as at 37, to

a size smaller than the internal diameter of the duct 27 thereby affording a free passage for the exhaust of such iuids as may be within the container 10.

The reduced portion 37 of the rod y32 extends through a hole provided in a head 38 which is loosely suspended on the end of the threaded portion 25. In order to achieve this construction, the head 38 is recessed on its top side to form the annular flange 39 having a lip 40 which contacts with one side of a groove 41 formed on the lower end of the portion 25. The internal diameter ofthe aforementioned lip and.` flange is greater than the diameter of said groove and the flange 42 which forms one wall thereof. Therefore, said head is capable of transverse movement relative to 'the portion 25 and also, since the depth of the above recess is greater than the thickness of the flange 42, said head is capable of longitudinal movement relative to said ortion.

In using my improved manifold, t e body 24 is mounted in the plug 12 as vshown in Fig 1. During this insertion, it is evident that owing to the loose mounting of the head 38 on the portion 25, the former will readily adjust itself to obtain a full contact of the beveled surface 43 on said head with the seat 20, thereby securing a perfect vseal at this portion of the plug 12 and preventing leakage of the fluid from the container 10 when the valve controlling the entrance thereto is open. Moreover, it is further evident that the above functioning will' obtain regardless of the wear on the screw threads of the portion 25, or a slight misalignment of said portion with the hole 14. As the head 38 is preferably made of a suitable metal, a' positive seal is secured between the manifold and plug 12 which is more effective than would be the case if a fibrous, or other seal of similar character was utilized. l

In order to establish a Howl through the duct 27, it is only necessary to operate t-he hand wheel 34 in order to cause the down' ward movement of the valve rod 32, thereby causing the portion 37 thereof to force theA ball 2l away from the seat 19. The iow will then continue until the container is exhausted, or thel ball 2l is permitted to return to its normal position.

My improved discharge manifold possesses the great advantage of longevity, especially'under conditions which require its frequent attachment and detachment to and .from pressure containers. As this durability is combined with a facility for always establishing a perfect seal with the containersthat it may be associated with, the manifold is of particular desirability under conditions where it is operated by inexperienced persons, such as the domestic ranges to which reference Ahas alreadyYA been made.

vWhile I have shown one set of elements v and combinations thereof for carrying into 'a for many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of my invention.l

I claim:

1. The combination with a container having'a passage provided with a valve seat communicating with the interior thereof, of

a discharge manifold movably'mounted in said passage, and a head attached to one end rof said manifold and capable of movement relative thereto, said head having a hole registering with said .passage and adapted, to effect ay sealed joint with said seat through the movement of said manifold.

.2. The combination with a container having a passage provided with a valve seat communicating with the interior thereof, of a discharge manifold mounted in said passage and a head attached to one end of said manifold and adapted for transverse movement relative thereto, said head having a hole registering with said passage and ist adapted for a sealing engagement with said seat when said manifold is mounted in said passage.

3. The combination with a container having a passageprovided with a valve seat communicating with the interior thereof, of

' a ydischarge manifold movably mounted in said passage and a head, having a hole registering wlth said passage, ed on one end of said manifold and adapted for a sealing Contact' with -said seat through the movement of said manifold.

Li. The combination with a container having a normally closed passage, provided with a valve seat, communicating with the interior thereof, of a discharge manifold movably mounted insaid passage, a head attached to one end of said manifold and adapted for transverse movement relative thereto, said head having a hole registering with said passage and adapted for a sealing engagement with said seat, and means loosely. suspending a normally closed passage, provided with a valve seat, communicating with the interior thereof, of a discharge manifold 'movably mounted in said passage, a head, having a hole registering with said passage, loosely suspended on one end of said manifold and adapted for a sealing engagement with said seat, and means carri opening said passage.

6. A .discharge manifold comprising a body providedwith a duct and a sealing head for engagement with a container' attached to one end of said body, adapted for transverse movement relative thereto, said head having a hole registering with said duct. y

In testimony whereof, I aix my signature.

WILLIAM MCIIEOWN.

ed by said manifold fory 

